Barcelona, Spain -
Lionel Messi's girlfriend has given birth to a baby boy, the Barcelona star's first child.
Messi and his girlfriend Antonella Rocuzzo have named the boy Thiago.
Barcelona excused the 25-year-old Argentina forward from practice on Friday to attend his son's birth at a hospital in Barcelona.
Earlier Friday, Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova said he expected Messi to play in Saturday's Spanish league match against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou stadium. - Sapa-AP